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Here's a link to the video.... trying to get up 60mph, not a 0 to 60 test by any means, but a rapid acceleration just to specify. After the update, RPMs still drop, but differently. Before the update, they'd drop down to around 1500 RPM right at 40mph and I'd have to give the car more gas to continue accelerating. After the update, they drop down at 50mph instead but only to about 2500 RPM allowing me to still keep accelerating without leveling off or having to give it more gas.

This may seem marginal, but the most improvement I can note is in engine braking. That's VERY noticeable to me. Also, coming off the stops in the city from one stop sign to the next, this doesn't seem like as much "work" for the engine and my city #s aren't pulling down my average MPG like they were previously.

Here's a link to the video.... trying to get up 60mph, not a 0 to 60 test by any means, but a rapid acceleration just to specify. After the update, RPMs still drop, but differently. Before the update, they'd drop down to around 1500 RPM right at 40mph and I'd have to give the car more gas to continue accelerating. After the update, they drop down at 50mph instead but only to about 2500 RPM allowing me to still keep accelerating without leveling off or having to give it more gas.

This may seem marginal, but the most improvement I can note is in engine braking. That's VERY noticeable to me. Also, coming off the stops in the city from one stop sign to the next, this doesn't seem like as much "work" for the engine and my city #s aren't pulling down my average MPG like they were previously.

Here's a link to the video.... trying to get up 60mph, not a 0 to 60 test by any means, but a rapid acceleration just to specify. After the update, RPMs still drop, but differently. Before the update, they'd drop down to around 1500 RPM right at 40mph and I'd have to give the car more gas to continue accelerating. After the update, they drop down at 50mph instead but only to about 2500 RPM allowing me to still keep accelerating without leveling off or having to give it more gas.

This may seem marginal, but the most improvement I can note is in engine braking. That's VERY noticeable to me. Also, coming off the stops in the city from one stop sign to the next, this doesn't seem like as much "work" for the engine and my city #s aren't pulling down my average MPG like they were previously.

I knew my car was built pre-January based on picking it up in December. But didn't look at the manufacture date until today just out of curiosity. Mine was built in October!!! I really DO have one of the firsts. =)

I knew my car was built pre-January based on picking it up in December. But didn't look at the manufacture date until today just out of curiosity. Mine was built in October!!! I really DO have one of the firsts. =)

My first (lemoned car) was the first 170th car made. Crazy to think it was a 1st day car.

I wonder what that build date really means. If it takes 8-10 weeks to get a car, and 3-4 weeks of that is transportation and adding options at the port, that leaves a month or more for assembly.
I wonder how much of the car is built on the "build date."

I wonder what that build date really means. If it takes 8-10 weeks to get a car, and 3-4 weeks of that is transportation and adding options at the port, that leaves a month or more for assembly.
I wonder how much of the car is built on the "build date."

i would guess (this is purely a guess) that the date listed should be the final assembly date. (if not, then i'm wrong and it doesn't make sense to me)

mine was built in Feb 2012 and i received my vehicle on April 3rd. of course, that gives 29 days of uncertainty to calculate the time of transport...

I do to be honest........It seems to be getting better MPGs every 5K or so...first noticeable increast was after the first oil change and around 4K....then around 10K it slowly creeped up again....whether its the change in weather, fuel blends not sure.....but driving habits and route havent changed...

I do to be honest........It seems to be getting better MPGs every 5K or so...first noticeable increast was after the first oil change and around 4K....then around 10K it slowly creeped up again....whether its the change in weather, fuel blends not sure.....but driving habits and route havent changed...

that's encouraging.

have you changed oil since 4k? (did the increase happen with a second oil change?)

i've found that the couple of new cars i've owned or watched (my parents), they have tended to get their biggest boost in the first few thousands of miles, but ultimately hit their stride (although not a huge increase) over a gradual run of 20k. (don't tell SOA or they will probably start feeding this as the party line )

I took delivery in March. I would assume that the issues were fixed with taking delivery when I did but I definitely feel like the car has way too much engine braking on down slopes & there's a decent amount of drop off in acceleration after the car hits 40 mph from a stop with the same amount of gas applied. The drop off in acceleration is very common with CVT's once you hit a certain speed & it's probably normal but I wanted to make sure. But when I'm going down a hill and my RPMs jump from 1500RPM to 3500RPM to slow me down it's too excessive & I don't think that's how it should be. I was hoping these TSB's were the answer these issues. I think calling SOA would be a good idea to see if my car would've been affected.

This is my first CVT and it is taking some getting used to. I have noticed the engine braking on downslopes; one thing I've tried is popping to neutral (!) until I approach the bottom of the hill, the car does not seem to mind. I need lots more practice for effective paddle shifting.

Accelleration is another issue, I'm going to pay close attention to how me car behaves after watching the video. I find myself doing a pedal pump (release then apply) to induce a "down shift" accellerating onto the highway... I ordered on President's Day and took delivery early April. Are we learning yet?

This is my first CVT and it is taking some getting used to. I have noticed the engine braking on downslopes; one thing I've tried is popping to neutral (!) until I approach the bottom of the hill, the car does not seem to mind. I need lots more practice for effective paddle shifting.

This is bad for any type of transmission and burns gas to keep the engine running while you are in neutral. When you engage drive again after coasting, there is a lot of drive train stress to get the output shafts on the transmission spinning and synced up again. Just click up on the paddles if you don't want to engine brake going downhill

have you changed oil since 4k? (did the increase happen with a second oil change?)

i've found that the couple of new cars i've owned or watched (my parents), they have tended to get their biggest boost in the first few thousands of miles, but ultimately hit their stride (although not a huge increase) over a gradual run of 20k. (don't tell SOA or they will probably start feeding this as the party line )

yes....following OEM schedule the last one was at 7500 miles....I honestly didnt pay that much attention as I have been averaging...31ish MPG....then I got the high of 33.5 this last fillup..surprised me...checked the figures and my mileage vs gallons twice......always allowing the nozzle to click off then filling again till it clicks one more time........

This is bad for any type of transmission and burns gas to keep the engine running while you are in neutral. When you engage drive again after coasting, there is a lot of drive train stress to get the output shafts on the transmission spinning and synced up again. Just click up on the paddles if you don't want to engine brake going downhill

agree: neutral is not a good from a safety perspective nor the drivetrain perspective for an AT.

even MTs, IMHO, it's wise to stay in gear all the way to the light (i know lots of friends who pop it into neutral approaching a stoplight/stop sign) by gently downshifting so you are in gear in the case the light turns green or something happens which requires you to gas it and go...

yes....following OEM schedule the last one was at 7500 miles....I honestly didnt pay that much attention as I have been averaging...31ish MPG....then I got the high of 33.5 this last fillup..surprised me...checked the figures and my mileage vs gallons twice......always allowing the nozzle to click off then filling again till it clicks one more time........

that's great. i hope i see similar slow drift up in my mileage.

i'm currently on my worse case scenario type of tank. mostly stop and go traffic, no drive greater than 5 miles before completely cooling down and i'm in the 25s right now on the computer. (prior which mixes this bad driving with some highway is 29 calculated 30 on the computer)

it's funny you mention your regular method of filling up. mine is usually (prior to this car) fill to click and then fill up to the nearest dollar. i was only doing weird amounts on my first two tanks of fuelly and then decided in the long run, i might as well just go back to my usual habit since it's easier when one is paying cash. (it's discounted for paying cash) in the end, it should all average out and a max of 1/4 gal isn't going to make a huge difference in the calculated mileage.

Bulletin Description: This is to announce that TCM reprogramming files are now available to address a concern where, on light acceleration from a stop, the customer feels a sensation that the vehicle&rsquo;s rate of acceleration is trailing off, requiring more throttle input to maintain a constant level of acceleration. Note: TCM reprogramming files were sent to all SDS users in the January 2012 SSMIII Update Version 1.31.45.7.

Bulletin Description: This is to announce that ECM reprogramming files are now available to optimize engine drivability while cruising and during engine braking. Note: ECM reprogramming files were sent to all SDS users in the January 2012 SSMIII Update Version 1.31.45.7.

Bulletin Description: This is to announce that TCM reprogramming files are now available to address a concern where, on light acceleration from a stop, the customer feels a sensation that the vehicle&rsquo;s rate of acceleration is trailing off, requiring more throttle input to maintain a constant level of acceleration. Note: TCM reprogramming files were sent to all SDS users in the January 2012 SSMIII Update Version 1.31.45.7.

Bulletin Description: This is to announce that ECM reprogramming files are now available to optimize engine drivability while cruising and during engine braking. Note: ECM reprogramming files were sent to all SDS users in the January 2012 SSMIII Update Version 1.31.45.7.

Depending on how the updates get applied, cars built after that January 16th date may still need the update. If they didn't see this as a big issue, Subaru may not have taken the time to re-flash all of the TCM and ECM modules they had already manufactured before placing them into cars.

Depending on how the updates get applied, cars built after that January 16th date may still need the update. If they didn't see this as a big issue, Subaru may not have taken the time to re-flash all of the TCM and ECM modules they had already manufactured before placing them into cars.

When I called SOA last night they told me one of the updates was generated in sept and the other in nov. since my car was produced on 1/25 they told me I'm good. So I would say all jan cars should have the current software.

When I called SOA last night they told me one of the updates was generated in sept and the other in nov. since my car was produced on 1/25 they told me I'm good. So I would say all jan cars should have the current software.

interesting...though it makes me wonder why they didn't issue it until January...or was it available to dealers, but just not as a TSB?

Depending on how the updates get applied, cars built after that January 16th date may still need the update. If they didn't see this as a big issue, Subaru may not have taken the time to re-flash all of the TCM and ECM modules they had already manufactured before placing them into cars.

My car was built in October. I was told in April by my dealer that they were getting tons of complaints about the MPG on these cars and to call back in May for any TCM updates Subaru might have issued. I called today and my dealer says they don't know of any TSB's for the Impreza, I even specfically mentioned peoples experiences in these fourms - answer was still "no" from my dealer.

Anyway, I have called now and logged a compalint with SOA. I think everyone needs to call SOA and log an official compalint about these low MPG's issues.

When I called SOA last night they told me one of the updates was generated in sept and the other in nov. since my car was produced on 1/25 they told me I'm good. So I would say all jan cars should have the current software.

While this might be true, there seems to be a huge information disconnect here. Even with the TSB data of 1-16-2012 and tons of people calling Subaru to complain about MPG and drivability, *no one* had information on this update until a couple weeks ago when it hit the Subaru technical page. With hundreds of enthusiastic 2012 Impreza owners just on this forum, seems weird that it went 3.5 months of being "available" until people knew.